Visits - NL Host Nation
11. Visits
11.1 General information
The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the overall organisation and logistics of incoming visits by heads of state and government, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and heads of international organisations. It also assists embassies with the logistics of inward state, official and working visits by heads of state and government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs and, in some cases, with private visits and transits.
The Protocol Department should be informed of a visit at least two weeks before the VIP’s arrival so that it can make the necessary arrangements.
The Royal Household is responsible for the logistics of all incoming and outgoing visits by Their Majesties the King and Queen and members of the Royal House. The Ministry of General Affairs takes political responsibility for these visits.
The Protocol Department of the Ministry of General Affairs is responsible for outgoing official and working visits of the Prime Minister, while the same departments in other ministries are responsible for incoming and outgoing visits of their own ministers.
11.2 Heads of state
Heads of state will be met on arrival by an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King, a protocol official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials from their embassy and a security officer. During their state, official and or working visit to the Netherlands, heads of state will be accompanied by a protocol official and a security officer. For the entire duration of the state visit the head of state will also be accompanied by an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance of the head of state’s time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.2.1 Heads of state transiting in the Netherlands
The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance by Note Verbale of a transiting head of state’s time, date and place of arrival and departure. The embassy is responsible for making reservations for the VIP Lounge and must bear the associated costs. At the embassy’s request an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King and a protocol official will welcome the head of state on arrival and take leave of them on departure.
If the head of state is accompanied by armed security officers, the relevant details should be given in the Note Verbale. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will inform the national security coordinator (NCTV) about the arms they are carrying.
11.3 Members of foreign royal families
Crown Princes and Princesses will, in principle, be met on arrival by an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance of their time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.3.1 Members of foreign royal families transiting in the Netherlands
The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance by Note Verbale of a transiting foreign royal’s time, date and place of arrival and departure. The embassy is responsible for making reservations for the VIP Lounge and must bear the associated costs. At the embassy’s request an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King and a protocol official, will welcome a member of a foreign royal family on arrival and take leave of them on departure.
If a member of a foreign royal family is accompanied by armed security officers, the relevant details should be given in the Note Verbale. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will inform the national security coordinator (NCTV) about the arms they are carrying.
11.4 Heads of government
Heads of government on an official or working visit will, in principle, be met on arrival by a protocol official, officials from their embassy and a security officer. Heads of government will be accompanied by a protocol official during their official programme in the Netherlands. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance of their time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.5 Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Ministers of Foreign Affairs on a working visit will, in principle, be met on arrival by a protocol official, officials from their embassy and a security officer. They will be accompanied by a protocol official and a security officer during their official programme in the Netherlands. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed by Note Verbale, well in advance, of their time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.6 Heads of international organisations
Heads of international organisations on a working visit will, in principle, be met on arrival by a protocol official, officials from their organisation and a security officer. They will be accompanied by a protocol official and a security officer during their official programme in the Netherlands. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance of their time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.7 Security officers accompanying official visitors
On state, official and working visits only, heads of state and government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs may be allowed to bring in armed security officers, after consulting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The protection of heads of state and government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs is, in principle, the sole responsibility of the Dutch authorities.
International organisations must provide the following information by Note Verbale, well in advance, if they request to bring in armed security officers, so that the necessary arrangements can be made:
< back to protocolguide
The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the overall organisation and logistics of incoming visits by heads of state and government, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and heads of international organisations. It also assists embassies with the logistics of inward state, official and working visits by heads of state and government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs and, in some cases, with private visits and transits.
The Protocol Department should be informed of a visit at least two weeks before the VIP’s arrival so that it can make the necessary arrangements.
The Royal Household is responsible for the logistics of all incoming and outgoing visits by Their Majesties the King and Queen and members of the Royal House. The Ministry of General Affairs takes political responsibility for these visits.
The Protocol Department of the Ministry of General Affairs is responsible for outgoing official and working visits of the Prime Minister, while the same departments in other ministries are responsible for incoming and outgoing visits of their own ministers.
11.2 Heads of state
Heads of state will be met on arrival by an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King, a protocol official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials from their embassy and a security officer. During their state, official and or working visit to the Netherlands, heads of state will be accompanied by a protocol official and a security officer. For the entire duration of the state visit the head of state will also be accompanied by an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance of the head of state’s time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.2.1 Heads of state transiting in the Netherlands
The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance by Note Verbale of a transiting head of state’s time, date and place of arrival and departure. The embassy is responsible for making reservations for the VIP Lounge and must bear the associated costs. At the embassy’s request an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King and a protocol official will welcome the head of state on arrival and take leave of them on departure.
If the head of state is accompanied by armed security officers, the relevant details should be given in the Note Verbale. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will inform the national security coordinator (NCTV) about the arms they are carrying.
11.3 Members of foreign royal families
Crown Princes and Princesses will, in principle, be met on arrival by an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance of their time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.3.1 Members of foreign royal families transiting in the Netherlands
The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance by Note Verbale of a transiting foreign royal’s time, date and place of arrival and departure. The embassy is responsible for making reservations for the VIP Lounge and must bear the associated costs. At the embassy’s request an Aide-de-Camp to H.M. the King and a protocol official, will welcome a member of a foreign royal family on arrival and take leave of them on departure.
If a member of a foreign royal family is accompanied by armed security officers, the relevant details should be given in the Note Verbale. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will inform the national security coordinator (NCTV) about the arms they are carrying.
11.4 Heads of government
Heads of government on an official or working visit will, in principle, be met on arrival by a protocol official, officials from their embassy and a security officer. Heads of government will be accompanied by a protocol official during their official programme in the Netherlands. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance of their time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.5 Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Ministers of Foreign Affairs on a working visit will, in principle, be met on arrival by a protocol official, officials from their embassy and a security officer. They will be accompanied by a protocol official and a security officer during their official programme in the Netherlands. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed by Note Verbale, well in advance, of their time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.6 Heads of international organisations
Heads of international organisations on a working visit will, in principle, be met on arrival by a protocol official, officials from their organisation and a security officer. They will be accompanied by a protocol official and a security officer during their official programme in the Netherlands. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed in advance of their time, date and place of arrival and departure and provided with a detailed programme of the visit.
11.7 Security officers accompanying official visitors
On state, official and working visits only, heads of state and government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs may be allowed to bring in armed security officers, after consulting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The protection of heads of state and government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs is, in principle, the sole responsibility of the Dutch authorities.
International organisations must provide the following information by Note Verbale, well in advance, if they request to bring in armed security officers, so that the necessary arrangements can be made:
- the name, place, date of birth and passport number of the security officer(s);
- the name, type and registration number of the firearm and rounds of ammunition;the mode of transport and place, date and time of arrival and departure (if commercial airlines are to be used, the flight number should be stated).
< back to protocolguide